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This refers to the editorial "Why can't Modi make a case for reforms?" (May 29). It is obvious that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not yet ready to put his current political halo on the line by trumpeting the reforms, which are being termed as anti-poor by the Opposition parties. In India, political tags cannot be taken lightly. They play a great role in making or breaking political careers. Having an anti-poor tag is like cutting one's own throat in politics. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is already on the back foot on the land acquisition Bill, as it is being labelled as pro-corporate by the Opposition.

Even otherwise, what is being projected as achievements by the NDA government in its expensive and expansive media publicity blitzkrieg to mark its first year in office, is more about nostrums than long-term reforms. Schemes such as the Atal Pension Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana will help the beneficiaries and their families only in future. They cannot address their current problems. The common man living from hand to mouth is more worried about his present than the unseen future. That the government had to hard sell its achievements only shows that it is not yet sure about these schemes being accepted and liked at the ground level.